Keira Melican
Principal Researcher | Docent
E-mail: keira.melican@ki.se
Telephone: +46852487069
Visiting address: Cmm, L8:02, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, 17176 Stockholm
Postal address: K2 Medicin, Solna, K2 Derm o Ven Eidsmo L Melican K, 171 77 Stockholm
Part of:
- Department of Medicine, Solna
- Research group Liv Eidsmo
About me
- Associate Professor working with Bacterial Pathogenesis.
Chairman of the Swedish Society for Microbiology
2004 Bachelor of Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
2005 Master of Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
2010 PhD in Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
2010-2013 Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow, Paris Cardiovascular Research
Center, Paris, France
2014 - 2019 Assistant Professor, Swedish Medical Nanoscience Center,
Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
2019 - Senior Researcher, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska
Institutet, Stockholm
Research
- In my team we aim to understand the dynamic interplay which occurs between
host and pathogen following infection, as a means to find alternative
treatment options. To do this we use a number of cutting-edge techniques
including intravital imaging, /in vivo/ modelling, immunological screening
and nanomedical approaches.
Our current focus is on two different clinically important bacterial
pathogens, /Staphylococcus aureus/ and uropathogenic /Escherichia coli/.
In our work with /Staphylococcus/ we are using humanized models of skin
colonisation to understand how methicillin resistant /S. aureus/ (MRSA)
colonizes healthy human skin and the inflammatory reaction this triggers.
Further we are investigating the role of coagulase negative Staphylococci
(CoNS) in skin colonisation and its interactions with MRSA.
To study UPEC kidney infection we use a spatially-temporally controlled in
vivo model to allow single cell resolution of kidney infection. This work has
led to the description of an infection-mediated protective coagulation
response to prevent the progression of infection to sepsis. Ongoing work aims
to understand how different innate immune response activate
following local bacterial infections.
Teaching
- I am course responsible for the PhD course in Clinical and Molecular
Bacteriology as well as free-standing course and workshops focussing on
interdisiplanary approaches to Infection.
I lecture in a number of both undergraduate and graduate courses here at KI
as well as other universities around Sweden.
Articles
- Article: MICROBIOLOGY-SGM. 2025;171(1):001522Zhang T; Luo R; Ehrstroem M; Melican K
- Article: BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES. 2025;166:214068Gurtler A-L; Lang JC; Czyrski GS; Sirois JP; Melican K; Rades T; Heinz A
- Article: BIOFILM. 2024;8:100212Zhang T; Ray S; Melican K; Richter-Dahlfors A
- Journal article: RSC PHARMACEUTICS. 2024;1(3):570-580Gurtler A-L; Sirois JP; Lang JC; Melican K; Rades T; Heinz A
- Article: PLOS PATHOGENS. 2024;20(8):e1012056Lang JC; Brutscher A; Ehrstrom M; Melican K
- Article: NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY. 2024;19(7):887-888Lang JC; Melican K
- Journal article: SUSTAINABLE MICROBIOLOGY. 2024;1(1):qvae023Lang JC; Shahata M; Melican K
- Article: FEMS MICROBES. 2023;4:xtad007Antypas H; Zhang T; Choong FX; Melican K; Richter-Dahlfors A
- Article: PATHOGENS AND DISEASE. 2022;80(1):fty087Schulz A; Chuquimia OD; Antypas H; Steiner SE; Sandoval RM; Tanner GA; Molitoris BA; Richter-Dahlfors A; Melican K
- Article: BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 2022;22(1):509Steiner SE; Edgren G; Melican K; Richter-Dahlfors A; Brauner A
- Article: BIOFILM. 2021;3:100060Choong FX; Huzell S; Rosenberg M; Eckert JA; Nagaraj M; Zhang T; Melican K; Otzen DE; Richter-Dahlfors A
- Article: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 2021;12(1):4547Manriquez V; Nivoit P; Urbina T; Echenique-Rivera H; Melican K; Fernandez-Gerlinger M-P; Flamant P; Schmitt T; Bruneval P; Obino D; Dumenil G
- Article: ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES. 2021;6(7):2001307Ziesmer J; Tajpara P; Hempel N-J; Ehrstrom M; Melican K; Eidsmo L; Sotiriou GA
- Article: PLOS PATHOGENS. 2021;17(5):e1009553Steiner SE; Choong FX; Antypas H; Morado-Urbina CE; Schulz A; Farinotti AB; Bas DB; Svensson CI; Richter-Dahlfors A; Melican K
- Article: FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY. 2020;11:26Martin-Rodriguez AJ; Rhen M; Melican K; Richter-Dahlfors A
- Article: FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY. 2019;10:2744Sedin J; Giraud A; Steinr SEE; Ahl D; Persson AEG; Melican K; Richter-Dahlfors A; Phillipson M
- Article: CELL REPORTS. 2019;29(5):1074-1081.e5Schulz A; Jiang L; de Vor L; Ehrstrom M; Wermeling F; Eidsmo L; Melican K
- Article: MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM. 2019;7(3):10.1128/microbiolspec.baiRichter-Dahlfors A; Melican K
- Article: PATHOGENS AND DISEASE. 2018;76(8):fty087Schulz A; Chuquimia OD; Antypas H; Steiner SE; Sandoval RM; Tanner GA; Molitoris BA; Richter-Dahlfors A; Melican K
- Article: NATURE COMMUNICATIONS. 2018;9(1):4450Charles-Orszag A; Tsai F-C; Bonazzi D; Manriquez V; Sachse M; Mallet A; Salles A; Melican K; Staneva R; Bertin A; Millien C; Goussard S; Lafaye P; Shorte S; Piel M; Krijnse-Locker J; Brochard-Wyart F; Bassereau P; Dumenil G
- Article: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. 2016;6:35578Choong FX; Back M; Steiner SE; Melican K; Nilsson KPR; Edlund U; Richter-Dahlfors A
- Article: NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES. 2016;2:16024Choong FX; Back M; Fahlen S; Johansson LBG; Melican K; Rhen M; Nilsson KPR; Richter-Dahlfors A
- Journal article: JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS. 2014;(86)Melican K; Aubey F; Duménil G
- Article: JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS. 2014;(86):51134Melican K; Aubey F; Dumenil G
- Article: METHODSX. 2014;1:251-253Antypas H; Libberton B; Melican K
- Article: AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE. 2013;188(6):684-692Assessment of the Interplay between Blood and Skin Vascular Abnormalities in Adult Purpura FulminansLerolle N; Carlotti A; Melican K; Aubey F; Pierrot M; Diehl J-L; Caille V; Hekimian G; Gandrille S; Mandet C; Bruneval P; Dumenil G; Borgel D
- Article: PLOS PATHOGENS. 2013;9(1):e1003139Melican K; Veloso PM; Martin T; Bruneval P; Dumenil G
- Article: PLOS PATHOGENS. 2011;7(2):e1001298Melican K; Sandoval RM; Kader A; Josefsson L; Tanner GA; Molitoris BA; Richter-Dahlfors A
- Article: CRITICAL REVIEWS IN IMMUNOLOGY. 2010;30(2):107-117Melican K; Boekel J; Ryden-Aulin M; Richter-Dahlfors A
- Article: CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY. 2008;10(10):1987-1998Melican K; Boekel J; MaNsson LE; Sandoval RM; Tanner GA; Kaellskog O; Palm F; Molitoris BA; Richter-Dahlfors A
- Article: CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY. 2007;9(2):413-424Mansson LE; Melican K; Boekel J; Sandoval RM; Hautefort I; Tanner GA; Molitoris BA; Richter-Dahlfors A
- Show more
All other publications
- Preprint: BIORXIV. 2024Lang J; Brutscher A; Ehrstrom M; Melican K
- Conference publication: JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY. 2022;142(12):S186Serezal IG; Tajpara P; Schonfeldt T; Ignatov B; Hoffer E; Ehrstrom M; Nylen S; Matura M; Melican K; Eidsmo L
- Letter: ALLERGY. 2022;77(12):3680-3683Gallais Serezal I; Tajpara P; Schonfeldt T; Ignatov B; Sortebech D; Hoffer E; Zhang T; Rooijackers E; Ehrstrom M; Nylen S; Matura M; Melican K; Eidsmo L
- Preprint: BIORXIV. 2021Manriquez V; Nivoit P; Urbina T; Echenique-Rivera H; Melican K; Flamant P; Schmitt T; Bruneval P; Obino D; Duménil G
- Book chapter: BACTERIA AND INTRACELLULARITY. 2019;p. 315-324Richter‐Dahlfors A; Melican K
- Preprint: BIORXIV. 2018Charles-Orszag A; Tsai F-C; Bonazzi D; Manriquez V; Sachse M; Mallet A; Salles A; Melican K; Staneva R; Bertin A; Millien C; Goussard S; Lafaye P; Shorte S; Piel M; Krijnse-Locker J; Brochard-Wyart F; Bassereau P; Duménil G
- Published conference paper: JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE. 2017;282(1):24-36Loffler S; Melican K; Nilsson KPR; Richter-Dahlfors A
- Review: FEBS LETTERS. 2016;590(13):2014-2026Stolp B; Melican K
- Editorial comment: FUTURE MICROBIOLOGY. 2013;8(5):567-569Melican K; Dumenil G
- Review: CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY. 2012;15(1):50-56Melican K; Dumenil G
- Doctoral thesis: 2010Melican K
- Book chapter: BACTERIAL VIRULENCE. 2010;p. 251-277Dynamic Imaging Technologies to Explore Infectious Processes at the Cellular, Tissue and Organ LevelEnninga J; Tournebize R; Melican K; Richter‐Dahlfors A
- Conference publication: FEBS JOURNAL. 2009;276:51Richter-Dahlfors A; Melican K; Boekel J; Mansson L; Sandoval RM; Tanner GA; Kallskog O; Palm F; Molitoris BA
- Review: BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL. 2009;4(6):804-811Melican K; Richter-Dahlfors A
- Review: CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY. 2009;12(1):31-36Melican K; Richter-Dahfors A
- Review: CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY. 2007;9(10):2334-2343Mansson LE; Melican K; Molitoris BA; Richter-Dahlfors A
Grants
- How human epidermal Langerhans cells detect and differentiate commensal and pathogenic StaphylococcusSwedish Research Council1 January 2025 - 31 December 2027
- Preventing invasive infections by hijacking bacterial communicationNovo Nordisk Fonden1 April 2023 - 31 December 2026
- Swedish Research Council1 January 2021 - 31 December 2023
- The phenotypic and genetic mechanisms mediating bacterial microbiota colonization of human skin in vivo.Karolinska Institutet - KID1 June 2020 - 1 June 2024
- Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Haemolysin toxin: Beyond poking holesSwedish Society of Medicine1 June 2020 - 30 June 2022
- Swedish Research Council1 January 2020 - 31 December 2023
- Senior Researcher positionAIMES, Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences1 September 2019 - 31 March 2025
- Swedish Research Council1 January 2017 - 31 December 2017
Employments
- Principal Researcher, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 2025-
- Principal Researcher, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2022-2025
Degrees and Education
- Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2022
- Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2010
Supervision
Supervision to doctoral degree
- Anna-Lena Gürtler, Electrospun skin patches for the treatment of psoriasis, 2024-
- Mariam Shahata, 2027
- Tianqi Zhang, 2024
Supervision of postdoctoral researcher
- Julia Lang
- Anette Schulz
Other researchers who have defended a thesis
- Andreas Brutscher, Profiling the immune response of healthy human skin to colonization by different Staphylococcus sp., 2022-2023